Rifle



' March 16 192s. 1,577,045

1 c. D. MEYER RIFLE Filed Sept. 29. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 16 1926. 1,577,045

C. D. -MEYER RIFLE Filed Sept. 29, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY March 16 1926. 1,577,045

0. D. .MEYER RIFLE Filed Sept. 29, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- ATTO R N EY Mm k\ mm Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNE'E'EQ STATES CHARLES D. MEYER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RIFLE.

Application filed September 29, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rifles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to breech block mechanism for repeating rifles and its object, generally, is the improvement in devices of this character to render the same more rapid, safe, convenient and efficient in operation.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification.

The breech action of the present invention is of the rectilineal type or so-called straight pull, like the Canadian Ross, the Swiss army rifle, 1889/96, and the Austrian; but having none of their inherent faults or defects and is designed as an improvement to the standard bolt action type, known as the Mauser, Manlicher, U. S. Springfield, Model 1903, and others, their most advantageous characteristics being retained.

In the following description the standard bolt action will be referred to as turn up type and the rectilineal as straight'pull, the name Mauser, Manlicher, U. S. Springfield, designating similar turn up types, because to open the same the handle is turned up, whereas in the rectilineal type, the pu1lis straight back.

Hitherto, straight pull actions have been unsatisfactory chiefly because they lack the power to insert and extract cartridges, mainly the extracting, as the cartridges oftentimes stick in the chamber after being fired, as with their principle, the riflemen cannot exert the power than can be obtained in the regular pull-up-and-cam-action.

As an example, the Ross straight pull has practically no extracting power, has no safety lugs and, should the locking lugs give way under pressure, the bolt will fly back and severely injure the rifleman. Also, if due to a pierce-primer, gases will enter the bolt by the firing-pin hole and thereby lead to the rear of the same to act on the bolt as a piston and the operating slide as its cylinder to push them apart and thus unlock the action which oftentimes causes disaster.

The Swiss army rifle, also a straight-pull, like the Ross has several disadvantages. Its power of extraction is better, however, as

Serial No. 665,669.

will be explained later; but, like the Ross, has no safety lugs and acts the same under excess pressure; its receiver is complicated and difficult to manufacture. Its locking lugs being located at a distance from the rear of the chamber, is considered as objectionable by expert riflemen and proves a detriment to accuracy in shooting due to the excessive spring to which the action is subject at the instant of firing causing a stretch of the metal between the chamber and the locking lugs recess in the receiver, the amount of such stretch or spring being in proportion to this length. Cartridges fired in a rifle having its locking mechanism away from the chamber invariably expand and cannot be reinserted in the chamber.

Rigidity of locking mechanism is what is required in rifles, and it is found only in the locking system of the regular turn-up action of the Mauser, Manlicher, or similar ty e.

But these last actions are slower, and or the average rifleman are hard to manipulate rapidly requiring four motions,first, a turn up movement; second, a pull back movement; third, a push forward movement; and fourth, a turn down movement.

The first above mentioned movement is the one requiring the most power to effect and is the one in which the rifleman is able to exert the least, due to the position he has to assume when firing, the location of the bolt handle, and the direction in which he has to apply the force. He can therefore use but a fraction of his muscular effort to lift the'handle or turn it up.

The first movement requires more power because in turning up the handle to unlock the bolt, it also cocks the piece which requires an appreciable amount of force and it also extracts the fired shell by bringing into action the cam on the bolt against the inclined surface of the receiver and thus forces the bolt backward, pulling on the cartridge, which is hooked by the extractor.

The other three movements are comparatively easy.

The advantages of the turn-up type reside in the provision of a more rigid, simple and safe construction which is adapted to modern high power ammunition, as is exemplified by the fact that they have been adopted as standard equipment by the armies of practically all nations. The principal disadvantage resides in their being slow and inconvenient to manipulate.

head which is not shown in Fig. 4.

"vational view thereof.

In my improved straight pull action I retain the regular boltaand in the accompanying "drawings have shown the action with the Springfield bolt type, which is selected because it embodies features which makeit particularly serviceable for assembling the action which will be discussed hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accom-- panying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a right hand elevational view of aportion of a rifle to which my improved devices are applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the same, and Fig. 3is a left hand ele- Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of parts shown in Figs. 1,2 and'3, with the bolt and parts associated therewith illustratedin retra'c'ted'positlons. Fig. 5 1s a horizontal plan view with the parts arranged as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a'fragmentary plan'view of 'Fig. 4, the operating slide be ing sh'ownprincipally. in horizontal section. ig. 7 is rear elevational view of 1, illustrating the use of a cartridge shell as one ofthe elements of the slidehandle. Fig. 8"is a "fragmentary plan view of the breech bolt. "Fig. 9 is a similar viewof the operatingslide. Fig. 10 is a plan view of portions of the firing pin rod, bolt sleeve, cocking piece, etc. Fig. ll'is a side elevation of Fig. 10 with the bolt sleeve shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 12 is a view in longitudinal elevation of the forward end of the firing pinand striker, the sleeve for the firing pin being "shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken through 1313 of Fig. 9. Fig. 1 1 is a rear end view of Fig/9. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the receiver taken on line 1515 of Fig. 5. Fig. '16 is a detail sectional view taken on line 16,16 of Fig. 4:, and including the Ibolt *ig. 16 is a development view of the inner peripheral surface of the receiver shown in Fig. 15 and also the outer peripheral surface of the rear portion of the bolt, to illustrate the grooves thereof with respect to the operating slide shown somewhat diagrammatic, and the cooking piece. Figs. 17,

18, 19 and 20 are views similar to Fig. 16-

with'the bolt head represented in itsprogressive positions. Fig s. '17-, 18 19 and 20 are vi'ews'similar to Fig. 16"-, with the parts thereof shown in the positions which they occupy when the bolt head is located as represented in Figs. '17, 18, 19 and 20, respectively. Fig. 21 is a plan view similar to Fig.2, exceptthat the operating slide guide is disposed at'the left hand side of the rifle; and Fig. 22 is a left hand elevational view of Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a rear elevation of Figs. 21 "and 22, including a cartridge for use as'a handle element of operating slide, the bolt sleeve and cocking piece turned to safe position.

but the handle has bcen omitted and a cylindrical extension indicated by 6 is added at the rear part of the bolt.

The extension 6 above referred to is of relatively large diameter and its forward end is formed toprovide an extracting cam face 7, the pitch of which and itslocation on .the bolt being the same vas in the present Springfield, rifle although its face is-somewhat longer to extend in front. of a stop 8 for one of the operating slide lugs 9'to limit the forward travel of the operating slide which is indicatedgenerally by 10.

On the periphery-of the said extension there is provided at diametrically opposite sides two grooves 11 and 12, each having an angle of one quarter of a turn for its length, in said extension. These grooves are of suitable widths and depths to allow the operating slide lugs 9 to move or slide in them freely.

As best shown in Figs. 16 to-20, the left sides of the 9 of these grooves,starting forward, are parallel to the axis of the boltfor a short distance and are thenextended helically to the right in such a manner as to terminate on the next quarter into a hook shape stop as at 9 to limit the operating slide lugs in the rearward travel of the slide.

The right sides 9 of the respective grooves, beginning forward, also start parallel to the axis of the bolt but for only half the distance of the left sides and thence helically to the right at the'same orgreater angle than theopposingangular portions of said left sides for about half the length'of the latterwhere they make an abrupt turn to the right as at 9 thus making an angle of approximately 90 with theaxis ofthe bolt. The right sides then continue for a length not less than oneand one-half times the width of the operating lugs 9 and thence, as at 9 parallel to the axis of the bolt. 13 represents an angular recess provided in the rear end of extension 6 to receive the nose 14: of the cooking piece 15. a

The recess 13has one of its sides, as 16, parallel with the bolt axis and its other side 16 arranged substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 1 6 to 2O inclusive.

The recess 13 extends to the bolt sleeve socket and its length is such as to limit the forward travel of the firing .pin assembly, shown in Figs. 11, and 12, the nose 14 of the cooking piece thereupon engaging against the end of said recess.

The interior of the bolt extension 6 is bored and threaded to providea socket for the bolt sleeve 17 and firing pinassembly.

The recei'ver.Interior details of the re ceiver 18 forward of dotted :line 1515,

Figs. 4 and 5, are similar to the Springfield, but to the rear of such line the receiver is extended as at l8 to cover the bolt mecha nism and also provide a suitable base 19, F igsl and 2, for a rear sight (not shown) as far back as possible and in a position almost unattainable on rifles with a turnup action. Vith my type of receiver almost any sight can be installed, for instance a telescope sight can be attached as low as desired as there is no bolt handle to clear, or a peep or aperture rear sight can be used advantageously. As a rifle is no better than its sight, this feature of my invention is sure to appeal to riflemen.

According to the present invention, the receiver is formed or constructed to provide bearings and 21 for the operating slide guide 22 which may be installed on either the left side as in Figs. 21, 22, 23, or on the right side of the receiver, as in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 however, the right hand arrangement is preferred because the bolt stop, magazine cut off and ejector are retained as hitherto in the Springfield. The gas escape vent 23, Fig. 5, is located on the left with the operating slide guide on the right side and is located on the right when the guideis on the left as at 23 in Fig. 21.

Operating sZz'cZe.The function of the operating slide 10 is to rotate the bolt one fourth of a turn to unlock it and at the same time withdraw the firing pin and hold it back. The operating slide then serves to draw the bolt to the rear, then push it forward again, and finally turn the bolt a quarter of a turn to lock it, having meanwhile hooked the firing pin to the sear, all the above being performed in two motions of the operating slide.

The main body 24; of said slide is of a cup shape, interiorly of the mouth of which is located at diametrically opposite sides, the two operating lugs 9 which are adapted to slide in the bolt grooves 11 and 12. The rear end of said body is provided with a central aperture 2.), see Fig. 14, for the bolt sleeve 17 and permits the latter to slide and rotate freely therein. Above the aperture 25 is a communicating slot 26 to permit the passage of the stop-block 27. At the bottom of the aperture 25 and diametrically opposite the slot 26, is a second slot 27 which serves as a way for the cooking piece nose 14:, the length of said way being such as to have the inner end thereof serve as a stop with respect to said nose thereby limiting the forward travel of the firing pin.

Protruding from the rear of the body 24 is a block 28 having an inclined outer surface 28 the pitch of which is the same as the pitch of the screw thread 29 of the bolt sleeve and its projection from the body is slightly greater than the said pitch.

At one side of the body element 24, the

slide is provided with the tubular guide 22 which is mounted for reciprocating move ments in the bearings 20 and 21 above mentioned.

The guide 22 is of a length about equal to the length of said receiver, the end 22 of the guide is tapered, as shown in Fig. 5, said end being divided by longitudinal slots such as 30 into a plurality of segments which at their extremities are formed with inner peripheral flanges or beads 31 to afford resilient claws which are adapted to snap over the shoulder of a stud 32 to releasably hold the operating slide in its closed position.

The above described locking devices serve to positively hold the operating slide when the action is fully closed and prevent any partial opening movement of the bolt as oftentimes occur with turn-up actions and is a frequent cause of misfire.

The stud 32 is of a general pear shape and cooperateswith the claw end of the slide guide in a manner somewhat similar to a. glove snap fastener. The stud, as shown, is provided with a screw threaded shank or plug element 32 which fits in a screw thread provided in the receiver part 20. p

The slide is also provided with a handle 33 projecting laterally therefrom for reciprocating the slide, and as illustrated said handle is provided with an eye 34 which is machined to hold a cartridge 35, Fig. 23, or a cartridge shell as 35 in Fig. 7, of the type intended for use in the rifle to which the present invention is applied.

The bolt sleeve 17 included in my invention serves to receive the back thrust of the main spring 36, at the same time permitting the bolt to rotate independently of any of the members which are attached thereto and to lock the complete action when desired.

Said sleeve is bored and slotted to accommodate the firing pin rod 15 and said cocking piece assembly to enable the same to slid-e longitudinally therein. The forward part of said sleeve is threaded as denoted by 29 (Figs. 10 and 11) so that it can be screwed into the rear end of the bolt as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4-.

Provided on said sleeve is the stop block 27 having a front face 27 disposed at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the screw thread 29 of the bolt sleeve and also with respect to the pitch of the surface 28 of the slide projection 28. The distance of the stop block 27 from the screw thread 29 is such that when the bolt and operating slide are assembled within the receiver and fully closed, the said sleeve may be screwed into the bolt until the stop block 27 revolubly engages the block or projection 28 at the back of the slide.

The stop block is desirably provided with 'an assembling catch '37 and a spring 38 whichtends'to retain the catch indisengaged position. When the firing pin is pulled back and the catch pressed down by 'the"operator, said catch serves to hold the firing pin assembly. on the bolt sleeve 17 while screwing the latter into or unscrewing itfrom the bolt, said catch, however, is a v convenience and'not a necessity. "1'0 though the lengths and shapes of same are modified -to suit the organization hereinabove described. The cut-off spindle 42 "for my improvedmechanism is made longer to su tthe receiver.

T assemblermd (ZiSfltOU/ftt the a0tz0n.

Y The operator in one hand holds the bolt 5 gulde.

horizontally by its forward portion, the rear end toward him, and with the safety lug -43"up,"and directed slightly toward the left as represented in Fig} 8. WVith his other hand he holdsthe operating slide 'with its handle 33 on the right side (see Fig. 9) back of the bolt when in its Fig. 8 position the operating lugs 9 then being in positions to register with the bolt grooves 11 and 12, "whereupon the bolt is insertedin the slide as far as it will go without turning. bolt is now turned until its safety lug 43 isvertical, that is a right angle to a plane passing through the center of the slide and Thus the bolt and slide are inserted in the receiver, having previously turned the cut-off 44 to clear locking lugs races 45,

Fig. 15, then push the handle fully home,

turn down the cut-off thumb piece 44 Figs. 7

2 and 3, permitting the operating slide and bolt to be worked back and forth.

With the bolt and slide assembly in the receiver and fully home, insert the cooking piece'15 and firing rod 15 assembly, into the bolt sleeve 17, then place on the rod the main'sp'ring 36, compress it, now slip over the rod thefiring pin sleeve 46, then hook on the striker 47 and then let go the sleeve which slips over the rear portion of the striker to secure the same to said rod.

Now hold the bolt sleeve in one hand and at the same time press on the assembling catch 37; with the other hand pull on'the cocking piece 15 until it is felt that the assembling catch 37 has dropped into the forward part of the cooking piece, see Fig. 11 to hold the firing pin assembly back on thejslee've.

When thus arranged insert the firing pin and bolt sleeve assemblies through the rear of the bolt and screw the same as 'far as it The The operation of my inv'ention inay be described as follows, and-"with reference,

'more particularly, to Figs. 15'to and 16 to 20, inclusive: 1 I

Assuming the action is assembled, closed and the trigger pulled the action will then be asrepres'ented in-Figsf16 and 16 The operator by means of handle 33 then pulls the operating slide (Fig. '9) rea'rw'ardl'y to cause the 'same to travel progressively through the position in which it is represented in Figs. 17 and 17 into itsposi'tion in which it is represented in Figs. 18 and 18 and in Figs. 19 and 19 "In its forward 'or first position (Fig. 16 an operating lug 9 for clearness only one of which is shown in said diagrammatic vie'wsfis seated against the forward end of slot 11; the

cooking piece 14 is at 'the 'forward'end of the recess 13 and also against the 'fofwa'rd end of the slot 27, indicated diagrammatically Figs. 17 and 18 of said operating slide; the locking lugs and the safety lug 43 being in their closed positions; and

the cam face 7 of the bolt extension 6 being'out of contact with the inclined surface 51 of the receiver 18.

In pulling the operating slide into its Fig. 17 po.sition,the same ismoved a distanceindicated by letter A in Fig. 17 a resulting in the operating lug -9 acting against side 9 of groove 11 thereby causing the bolt 'to rotate a distance circumferentially as indicated by B, the locking lugs 50 and the safety lug 43beingcorrespondingly revolved;'the cocking piece 14 is brought by the operating slide into its cocked position; and the cam face 7 of the'bolt is brought into contact with the inclined surface '51 of the receiver. In the further rearward movement of the slide from its Fig. 17 position into its Fig. 18 position, said slide travels a'distance indicated by A in Fig. 18 which eifectsthe action by causing the operating lug 9 to reach its normal rearmost position thereby completing a onefourth rotation of the bolt,'as indicated byv 13 thus revolving the locking lugs 50 and safety lug 43 intopositions to register with the respective races 4'5, the cam face? ofthe bolt'meanwhile acting against the inclined surface 51 of the receiver causes the bolt to be pushed rearwardly indicated by C to accomplish what is conventionally known as primary extraction,

The bolt now is unlocked and free, the operating slide is acting against the firing pin which is held on the bolt by the bolt sleeve 17 through the medium of the main spring 36 so, without pulling the handle further back, said spring will cause the bolt to overtake the operating slide an amount equal to D Fig. 19 or until the operating 'lugs 9 engage the sides 9* of the respective bolt grooves 11 and 12 and the slide and bolt will be held together by the power of the main spring which tends to pull the bolt back and push the operating slide ahead thus keeping them in contact, the bolt lugs 50 being in their respective races (see Figs. 19 and 19) cannot turn either way and the bolt is locked against rotation.

By pulling on the handle the bolt is dragged back, its lugs sliding in the races therefor until one of locking lugs comes into contact with the cut off 44, Fig. 5, whereby the bolt will be checked or stopped, the operating slide will also be stopped, but less sharply as it is held by the main spring it may be felt if the handle is further pulled rearwardly, thus somewhat releasing the shock on thecut-ofi and on the bolt locking lug referred to, incidentally giving the operators hand a rebound for closing the action when it is desired to work the same rapidly.

However, the yield of the main spring is limited by the operating lugs coming in contact with the hooks 9 at the ends of the sides 9 of the respective bolt grooves 11 and 12 thereby preventing any further backward movement of the operating slide and preventing injury to the main spring, and should the handle be released it will return to the position in which it is represented in Fig. 19 and Fig. 4.

Pushing the handle ahead will move the bolt forward to insert a cartridge in the rifle chamber, the operating lugs acting on grooves sides 9' will have a tendency to rotate the bolt proportional to the angles of the sides 9 with respect to a plane at right angles to the axis of the bolt.

When the bolt in its forward movement has traveled to within a distance equal to C, Fig. 18*, of the end of its total travel, the cam face 7 of the bolt will engage the inclined surface 51 of the receiver'and turn the bolt, the locking lugs 50, and the safety lug 43 which are then in line to register with the recesses 52 and 53, respectively, of the receiver.

As the bolt begins to turn the main spring which is still pulling on the slide facilitates such turning action, that is to saythe cam acts against the'inclined surface of the receiver, and the operating lugs act against the small angle sides 9 of the grooves 11 and 12, the push on the handle by the operator is thus assisted by the pull of the main springall acting together, make this motion positive and continuous until the nose of the cooking piece 14 is arrested by the sear 40 which is shown in Figs. 4 and 20 The bolt has meanwhile turned sufficiently to be partly locked, and the operating lugs are brought against the sides 9 of the bolt grooves 11 and 12 (Figs. 17 and 17) a further push forward on the handle will cause said lugs to complete the rotary movement of the bolt, see Figs. 20 and 20, and lock it against rotation as it will be seen that the operating lugs 9 are now at the ends of said grooves which are parallel with the axis of the bolt to accordingly prevent the bolt being turned in either rotary direction.

The operating slide, being at the end of its forward travel, has become locked by being engaged by stud 32. The rifle is now loaded and ready to fire. If the operating slide was not pushed to the limit of its travel or if it was purposely placed at any position between those in which it occupies in Figs. 17 and 16 the bolt would be partly closed, should the trigger then be pulled the firing pin will be prevented from reaching the cartridge primer because the nose 14 of the cooking piece will strike the end of the slot, indicated by 27 in Figs. 17 and 4, in the underside of the operating slide thereby causing the slide to be urged ahead to close the bolt and causing a misfire.

The inclined side 16 of the recess 13 at the rear of the bolt, into piece nose slides when the trigger is pulled, does not at any time touch the said nose except at the end of said recess.

To put the action at safe, the rifle being cocked, pull on the cooking piece 15 until its nose 14 is withdrawn from the operating slide slot 27 and then turn it to the left a quarter of a turn. This simple movement will also serve to lock the action as the stop block 27 on the bolt sleeve 17 which is now out of register with its opening 26 and to the rear of the operating slide preventing said slide being pulled to the rear, see Figs. 23 and 7 This safety is simple, requires no parts additional to those herein shown and described, is durable, easily operated, and can be manipulated readily with gloves or mitts.

With regard to the extracting power of my improved action, it will be apparent from an inspection of 16 that when the action is closed the extracting cam 7 on the bolt is at a certain distance from the inclined surface 51 on the receiver and that the handle 33 has to travel to the rear a distance equal to A in l7 before said cam comes in which the cooking contact with said surface and in doing so the-operating slide will acquire momentum dueto the speed ofits travel and the cam will encounter the inclined surface 51 with proximately the same radial distance from the bolt axis as the extracting cam 7 thus transmitting an extracting power in the ratio of 1 to 1, see Figs. 4 and 6.

In the straight pull action, Ross, Swiss, etc., hereinbefore described, the power is transmitted in a ratio of less than one to one due to the locations-where the force is ap-, plied being closer to the axis of the respective bolt than the locking lugs thereof, which also function as extracting cam. Also in said straight pullactions the extracting motioncommences when the bolt; begins to rotate and thus, having no play, simply transfers one straight motion into 'another straight motion which is subject to the ratio of less than one to one as explained above.

In the straight pulls, heretofore, when a shell is stuck so is-the bolt, its operating- A shell does not need to be very tight in a chamber to withstandthe strongest effort by the rifleman to pull it'out withsuch straight pull action.

To illustrate the principle of the extracting action of my invention, assume that a nail is driven into woodsay half an inch,

- and it is desired to withdraw or extract it by distance to the rear suiiicient to cock the piece, see Fig. 17 thus eliminating the thrust. of themain-spring on the operating slide. Now again closing the action for a new. StElItz and having no main spring-power to contend with, working the handle rapidly the cam will strike the inclined surface of the receiver with considerable'force and be capable of dislodging the tight: shell. With the type of handle provided for this rifle action and the direction ofthe appliecl forces to: work it, the rifleman. is able to advantageously use his muscular efforts under ordinary shooting conditions, that iswithout removing the rifle from theshoulder.than

he would beable to do with a rifleequipped with the standard turn-up bolt. With' the turn-up bolt type. the turning up action tends to impart a rotary movement to the rifle with respect to its longitudinal axis which movement must be. resisted by the riflemans left hand, whichgrips the rifle stock so that when a shell'is. stuck in the chamber the bolt handle is liftedor turned tobring the 'extracting cam against the in clined surface on the receiver. 7

In other words, the bolt handle of the turn-up bolt providing a greater leverage than the hold of his left hand on the rounded stock, the rifieman is oftentimes compelled to change his position to secure supplemental resistance; on the. reaction side such, for instance, as placing the toe ofthe stock on the ground or holding the stock between his body and right arm, between his.

legs, etc.

With the straight pull, moreover, the re action is in the direction of the axis of the rifle or against the shoulder with the ten:

dency to keep it there.

What I claim is 1. In a rifle action, an operating slide. provided with lug elements,,and a bolt of the Mauser type with its rear portion formed to serve as an extracting cam and alsoas a stop for the lugs of the operating slide.

2. In a rifle action, a bolt sleeve, and an operating slide. having an opening in the end thereof through which said bolt sleeve operates, said bolt I sleeve being provided with a stop block and the operating slide is provided with a slot forthepassage of said stop block.

3. In a rifle action of the rectilinear type,

a breech bolt, a bolt sleeve provided with a stop block thereon, a cockingpiece, and an operating slide having in its rearend an opening for said boltsleeve, a slot for said stop block and a way for the cockingpiece. l. In a rifle action a breech bolt, a bolt sleeve provided with a stop block thereon,

a cocking piece, an operating slide havingin its rear end an opening for said bolt sleeve, a slot for said stop blockand a way for the cocking piece, and a-block providedon said operating slide tobe engageable by the stop I block of the bolt sleeveto limit the rotary motion of said bolt sleeve.

5. In a rifle action, an operating'slide having at one side thereof a guide to afford rectilinear movements to said operating slide, said guide isengaged-by devicesproslide to the breech bolt when in their closed positions.

9. In a rifle action, a bolt, a bolt sleeve containing means to hold the firing pin assembly in its rearmost position with respect to said bolt sleeve.

10. In a rifle action, a bolt sleeve, a stop block thereon, a firing pin assembly, and means rendered operative by turning the bolt sleeve and firing pin assembly to lock the action in safe position.

11. In a rifle action of the rectilinear type, an operating slide having a guide element, and a receiver provided with spaced apart bearings in which is slidably mounted the guide element of the operating slide, the

space between said bearings serving as a passageway for extracted shells.

12. In a rifle action having an operating slide and a receiver provided with bearings for the guide element of the operating slide, wherein interengaging parts are provided on the receiver and the guide element of the operating slide for securing the latter in its closed position.

13. In a rifle action of the rectilinear type, a receiver provided with an inclined surface, a breech bolt having an extracting cam, and means for imparting rotary motion to said bolt whereby the cam thereof engages the inclined surface of the receiver to effect the extracting of a shell.

14. In a rifle action of the rectilinear type, a receiver having an inclined surface therein, a breech bolt having a cam thereon, said breech bolt being provided with operating grooves, a bolt sleeve and firing pin assembly, and an operating slid-e provided with lugs engaging in said operating grooves, arranged and cooperating so that the main spring of said assembly will effect a primary rotation of said breech bolt in the closing operation of the same.

15. In a breech action rifle, the combination of a receiver having races, a bolt having locking lugs adapted to engage within said races, a longitudinally movable operating slide slidingly associated with said bolt, and connections comprising operating lugs and grooves between said slide and the bolt by which the latter may be rotated by reciprocating the former, each of said grooves having the rear portion of one of its sides formed to provide a stop and the other side of the groove formed to provide a shoulder,

. said stop and shoulder being arranged in spaced apart relation longitudinally of the bolt axis and in opposed relation with each other whereby the operating lugs are movable between the respective stops and shoulders without imparting any motion to said bolt.

16. In a breech action rifle, the combination of a receiver having races, a bolt having locking lugs adapted to engage within said races, a longitudinally movable operating slide slidingly associated with said bolt, and connections comprising operating lugs and grooves between said bolt and slide by which the latter may be rotated and reciprocated by the former, said grooves each having at one side thereof a stop and in opposed relation thereto at the opposite side of the groove a shoulder between the respective stops and shoulders said operating lugs are adapted to reciprocate without imparting any rotary or rectilineal motion to the bolt.

17. In a breech action rifle, the combination of a receiver having races, a bolt having locking lugs adapted to engage with said races, a longitudinally movable operating slide slidingly associated with said bolt, and connections comprising operating lug and groove connection between said bolt and the slide by which the latter may be rotated and reciprocated by the former, said grooves being arranged to afford lost motion to the op erating lugs whereby said connection ivill allow said bolt and slide a relative longitudinal movement with respect to one another when said bolt is unlocked thus preventing said slide to communicate to said bolt any rotary motion until the bolt is returned to its locking position.

18. In a breech action rifle, the combination of a receiver having races, a bolt having locking lugs adapted to engage within said races, a longitudinally movable operating slide slidingly associated with said bolt, and connections comprising operating lugs and grooves connection between said bolt and the slide by which the latter may be rotated and reciprocated by the former, said grooves having at the opposite sides of each a stop and a shoulder respectively which stop and shoulder are spaced apart longitudinally of the bolt to a distance greater than the length of the respective operating lug longitudinally of the slide to allow said bolt and slide a relative longitudinal movement with respect to one another when said bolt is un locked thus allowing said slide to impart to said bolt a rectilinear motion only while the locking lugs engage within said races.

19. In a rifle action, the combination of a receiver having locking-lug-recesses and lug-races therein, a breech bolt havinglocking lugs and provided with helical grooves, an operating slide having lugs adapted to engage said grooves to rot-ate and reciprocate the bolt, said grooves being so arranged that when the breech bolt is fully unlocked by the operating slide said slide is rendered incapable. to rotate. said breech bolt by a longitudinal movement of said bolt with respect to said slide untili the breech-bolt is returned to its locking position.

20. Ina rifle action, the combination with a receiver, anoperating slide and a breech bolt assembly comprising a, breech bolt, a firing pin, a main spring surrounding said pin, a cooking piece, and a bolt sleeve adapted to be screwed into the breech bolt, of means. whereby said breech bolt assembly and; the operating slide are automatically telescoped together at the instant saidbreech; bolt is unlocked thus releasing said breech bolt from rotary motion from said'slide and allowing them to reciprocate freely together.

21.. In a rifle action, the combination with a receiver, an operating slide and breech bolt assembly comprising a breech bolt, an extractor mounted thereon, a firing pin, a main spring surrounding said'pin, acocking piece, and abolt sleeve adapted to be screwed into vthe breech bolt, of means, to

eliminate rotary movement of said breech bolt at the instant said breech bolt is unlocked, said means being efi'ected'by the main spring which causes the breech bolt to retrograde a. distance upon said; operating lugs within the slide. 7

22. In a rifle action, a receiver having locking lug races, a breech bolt havingloclo ing lugs and a safety lugandhelical grooves, an extractor mounted upon said breech bolt,

an operating slide capable of turning the breech bolt into locked and unlocked positions and move said bolt and the extractor along said recelver. races when reciprocated,

means provided in said grooves to longitudinally engagevsaid operating lugs simultaneously with the unlocking of the breechbolt which engaging movement is eifected by the reaction of the main spring against the breech bolt and the slide thereby causing said breech bolt and slide to meet'and permitting them to reciprocatetogether.

23. In a rifle action, a receiver having locking lug races, abreech bolt having locking lugs and a safety lug and helical grooves, andan operating slide-provided with operating lugs engaging in said grooves for turning thebreech'bolt intolocked' and unlocked positions and move saidbolt along said receiver races when reciprocated, said helicalgrooveshavingmeans on both sides of each to serve as-stops with respect to said operating-lugs, said' stops being-"so located that the longitudinal movement of the operatingslide necessary to lock said bolt is shorter than the longitudinal movement of the slide necessary to-unlock the bolt.

24, In a rifle-action, the combination of a receiver having. locking-lug-recesses, lugraces and an inclined surface, a-breechbolt having locking lugs, a safety lug, anextractslide having lugs adapted to engage said helical grooves to lock and unlock said" breech bolt and to move same-alongthe re (381"61" races when the slide 18 reciprocated, a

firing pin assembly, a'bolt sleeve adapted't-o; be screwedinto said breech bolt, a cooking piece associated with said sleeve and ;bolt, means wherebythe operating slide w1ll cause the breech bolt tolrotate through a'certain, angular distance before said extractingmechanism beings to act.

25. Ina rifle action, the combination with a receiver, of an operating slide and} a breech bolt assembly comprising a breech bolt arranged for longitudinal movementwith respect to said slide when said bolt is unlocked, a firing pin, a main spring-surrounding said'pin, a cocking piece, a" bolt sleeve adapted'to be screwed into the breech bolt, and means whereby said longitudinal movementis automatically takenup by the main spring in sequence with the unlocking movement. Y

ing cam, and1helical grooves, an operating- 26. In a rifle action of the rectilinear-type,

CHARLES D; MEYER. 

